Canadian mineral exploration company Patriot Battery Metals (ASX:PMT) reports it is mobilising for the winter phase of its lithium-focused 2023 drill campaign at the Corvette Property located in Quebec, Canada.
The company says the 2023 winter drill program will be more expansive than the 2022 program, kicking off with 3 drill rigs in January and increasing to 5 rigs from early February through mid-April.
Patriot expects to complete 20,000m of drilling over this period with the primary objective of further delineating the extent of the CV5 Pegmatite, as well as infill drilling to improve the geological model to achieve indicated mineral resource confidence, which will support a future Prefeasibility Study (PFS).
Commenting on the winter drill program Patriot Battery Metals President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director Blair Way says: “This is a significant milestone for the company as we embark on the second winter drill season on the Corvette Project.
“This is a ‘significant’ milestone for the company as we embark on the second winter drill season on the Corvette Project”
The 2022 drilling has defined something very special at Corvette and this winter season will further expand on this ‘significant’ discovery. With 5 drill rigs we will be better positioned to continue to drill out the CV5 Pegmatite Cluster at an aggressive pace, while also further testing the CV13 Pegmatite Cluster.
The year 2023 will be a transformative year for the company as we advance to an initial mineral resource at CV5.”
Patriot reports the drilling campaign will primarily target the eastern extensions of the CV5 spodumene pegmatite and secondary lenses, moving towards the CV4 Pegmatite cluster located about 2.5km along strike.
The company states an understanding of the near-surface lateral behaviour of the CV5 Pegmatite is needed to refine locations of certain infrastructure required for prefeasibility level advancement, as well as help define associated field programs planned for 2023.
In addition to this, Patriot reports the construction of a 20km-long winter road is nearing completion and will provide direct road access from the all-season Trans-Taiga Road to the primary drill area at CV5. The company also notes the road access will increase the efficiency of the drill program by reducing the dependency on helicopters for drill rigs, equipment and personnel movements.
Furthermore, Patriot states the overall 2023 field campaign will have multiple facets including advancing the CV5 Pegmatite to an initial Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) scheduled for the first half of the year, as well as further delineating the CV13 Pegmatite Cluster.
These drill programs will be coupled with numerous multi-disciplinary studies including environmental, hydrological, hydrogeological, geomechanical, and metallurgical studies as the project advances towards a PFS.
Patriot Battery Metals is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on acquiring and developing battery, base and precious metals projects.
The company’s flagship asset is the wholly owned Corvette property located in the James Bay Region of Quebec. This land package hosts the 2.2km-long CV5 spodumene pegmatite which the company says hosts ‘significant’ lithium potential.
Patriot also holds the Pontax Lithium-Gold Property in Quebec and the Hidden Lake Lithium Property in the Northwest Territories, as well as the Freeman Creek Gold Property in Idaho, US.
Images: Patriot Battery Metals Inc
